Needle lace began with the need to mend torn clothes or to hem a piece of fabric to stop it fraying. By the 1400s, though, thread was being used to decorate the fabric by teasing or braiding the  threads. Cutwork began to appear, with threads being pushed apart and embroidered around. ‘Ladies of the Castle” were required to be accomplished in sewing, and began to experiment with decorating their lavish clothes with...

The word “chatelaine’ is derived from Latin, and is the female French word for ‘keeper of the castle’ or country house, and so referred to the person who was responsible for guarding the keys to the castle during Mediaeval times. This person also acted as the overseer of the running of the household. This involved managing the servants, the requisites and the associated book-keeping. Chatelaines were originally worn...